That's Fit

OK, readers, I need some help. Here's my dilemma: At my kids' elementary school, parents are expected to bring one bulk snack once each month, something that will serve about 20 kids. If every mom or dad complies with this expectation, teachers end up outfitted for mid-day snacks all year round. Simple enough. But I'm concerned with what I should donate each month. Last year, I tried to offer something not so terribly unhealthy -- mini bags of pretzels, for example -- but this coming Fall, I want to do better.

Here's my ideal: Fruit, maybe grapes divvied up into baggies, sliced apples, something whole and fresh and well, healthy. I guess I could plan with my kids' two teachers to pick a day each month where I show up and pass out my wholesome snack -- no way of refrigerating these snacks for later -- but I'm wondering if you have any kid-friendly suggestions I might use for this homework assignment, something I can deliver and leave with the teacher to use when appropriate. Most parents donate bags of chips, crackers, and cookies, but I don't want to succumb to these easy treats. I hate nothing more than seeing my kids walk out of school with Oreo mustaches. Not exactly fuel for the brain, you know. So help me, won't you? Leave a comment below and tell me what to do.

Here's to the good health of kids -- yours and mine.

When it comes to feeling barely blue or downright depressed, women tend to ask for help more than men ask for help, say the experts at Ladies Home Journal. With WebMD reporting that nearly six million men will have at least one major episode with depression each year, it's clear a good bunch of men -- while they might not ask for it -- need a good dose of help. In order to draw these guys out and get them the assistance they need, let's be on the lookout for these eight signs of trouble.

• Withdrawing from others and spending more time alone, watching TV, playing video games, or pursuing other solo activities.

• Increased drinking or use of mood-altering drugs.

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hey Fitz. Yesterday I did two classes in a row - Cardio sculpt and Extreme training, which are both really tough. Two days before that I ran three miles to the gym, did a class and ran three miles home. For the first time in a long time I did not enjoy the exercise one bit. I have been exercising regularly for a long time now - usually I love it. I have been practicing good nutrition habits with the occasional sweet tooth fix, drinking lots of water and STILL the number on the scale is staying the same. I feel like I am on the verge of burning out. I can't seem to lose the flab around my tummy - particularly under my belly button and backs of my thighs, no matter what I do. Plus, short of starving myself and getting very cranky, I don't know how to actually lose the weight. Funny how a number on a machine, the scale, can be so vital to my state of mind. It's ridiculous, really. PLEASE - do you have any advice? Cindy

A. Whoa there Cindy! You need a break! Sounds odd for me to say this, but put your sneakers away and sit the heck down! Fitness is not supposed to make us insane, fitness is supposed to help us maintain our sanity. You are burnt out to the max, and need to just let it go for a while. I'm not suggesting forever, but take at least a week off. I know what you're going through. You already have an elite fitness level, but particular parts of your body are just not responding the way you want them to. You have incredibly high standards for your body. That often leads to frustration. Especially when you're 'starving' and running a million miles a week!

I have a medicine cabinet full of bandages adorned with princesses, fairies, and even a yellow sponge man that lives under the sea. These colorful characters help my kids feel better when they fall down and hurt themselves. Soon, their tears dry up and they wear their bandage with pride.

But what about when I get hurt? Don't I deserve a little pick me up when I cut my finger slicing veggies? Help Remedies, Inc. thinks that grown ups deserve a little extra attention too, so they've created their Help line of pain relievers and bandages. Their packages are so kind and funny that you'll forget about your bleeding thumb (or your headache, caused by your radical thoughts and making you deserving of a raise) before you know it.

Not only are these products funny, they're made with recycled paper pulp and can be composted. Help will also donate 5% of profits to charity.

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz, I'm 56, run three to four miles, five or so days a week. Lately, as I'm walking to cool down, the back part of my right knee tightens up and bending it becomes very painful as I do post-run stretching. No pain when running. Anyone familiar with this condition? Dave

A Hey Dave. I get soooo many questions about knees. In fact, I had knee surgery long ago, so some people think I'm some sort of knee expert. I'm not. In fact, I don't think anyone who isn't a physician or physical therapist and hasn't seen you in person should give you advice on your condition. Not helpful, right? Wrong.

Chronic pain is something that millions of people deal with every day of their lives. According to this article, over 30 billion dollars were spent on sore necks and backs alone in 2005. But often times doctor visits and pills don't do the trick. It can be like taking a medication lottery for pain, hoping that the next prescription will bring relief.

But what if someone could enroll in a four week "boot camp" that trains the body to mitigate the chronic pain caused by his or her body's system going haywire? It doesn't cure the pain, but it allows for the person to address its unrelenting nature and helps them combat the ever-present discomfort.

Patients of this boot camp are taught to move and exercise in ways that address biological, psychological and social elements of chronic pain. They're also seen by professionals to guide them: a physician, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a biofeedback therapist, a clinical psychologist and a movement specialist all lend their expertise. One women who partook in the program was able to take her first ballet class in over a year thanks to the regimen. It may be pricey, but some people may be willing to foot the bill if it means less pain!

When it comes to weight loss, it certainly would be nice to have a quick fix. We can talk to our cars and order a pizza, we have Segways to keep us from having to walk too far ... but how can all this technology help us in our weight loss goals?

Forbes came up with eight tech toys to help us shape up and slim down. Not only are they helpful, but they're fun!

• A Sensei for Weight Loss personal digital coach turns your cell phone into your personal nutrition coach.
  
  
• Diet.com offers nutrition texting so you can always know how many calories you're taking in, no matter where you are. Well, as long as you have cell reception, that is.
  
  

People who identify themselves as alcoholics may have a new treatment option in the future. It's a drug which reduces the stress response of the brain, and it could lead to an encapsulated form of aid.

Drug-related treatments are not new for alcoholism. Traditionally, these target the pleasure response people get from drinking. However, this new option would target the stress which leads up to alcoholics drinking in the first place. It's worth noting that this finding, like many studies in the world of research, involved lab rats -- not humans.

However, the drug still targets the same protein, so this could be a viable treatment option in the future. By cutting the urge to drink (at least partially), alcoholics could be empowered to fight this addiction more effectively. Skeptics argue that this would not be a one-pill-panacea for alcoholism. Different things work for different people, so it will be good to see how this fares in larger, human-based applications.

Yooooooohooooooo...That's Fit readers! I want you! I need your help inspiring the millions of other folks visiting this site each month in efforts to become educated and inspired. We all love success stories. We all love to hear from others in the same boat we're in. You have a story to tell.....and I want it!

All I need you to do is answer the questions below and email them along with a photo to me. Try to keep the photo of yourself around 200 pixels. It's easy, fun, and a great opportunity to change the life of someone else.

Name:

Age:

Occupation:

How often do you exercise?

What type of exercise do you do?

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy?

What's on your MP3 player?

Favorite healthy food?

Favorite not-so-healthy food?

Greatest fitness accomplishment?

Best fitness advice?

Click here to view other Fitzness Fiend features.

FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

Dieting and exercising can sometimes be lonely pursuits. Add a friend or family member to your journey toward health, and it may make a world of difference. Sure there are some -- 34 percent of respondents in one study -- who report that loved ones sabotage their weight-loss efforts, tease them about food choices, and get in the way of their exercise goals. The vast majority, however, are very supportive.

A Gallup Poll conducted for USA TODAY and Discovery Health of 769 Americans, ages 18 and older, reveals the following:

• 68% say their circle of friends and relatives has done more to help than hinder their efforts to slim down.
  
  

• 88% say they've been complimented on their successes when they've been able to drop pounds.
  
  

• 57% say it would be helpful to them to partner with a friend or relative when trying to lose weight.
  
  

Not a bad idea, to partner up with someone near and dear to your heart as you shave off pounds and step up your fitness. Not only will the company do you good, the accountability that comes with having someone in the know may keep you right on track. So when the going gets tough, grab someone who cares.

Yet another advantage to drinking green tea can be added to the list. In addition to benefiting skin conditions, cardiovascular health, and a slew of other things, researchers are claiming there's a connection to prostate cancer.

Having five cups or more daily could possibly cut the risk of advanced prostate cancer in half. While that seems like a lot of tea, people in Asia routinely consume such large quantities. It's also worth noting that men over there get this cancer a lot less frequently. Researchers say this study is not a guaranteed fix or anything, but back it by claiming they "are just presenting our results. But the study does point to the hope that green tea reduces the risk."

More clinical trials are needed to confirm this preventive ability. Either way, green tea gets one more plus on the list!

It's arguably one of the most stressful moments in a college student's life. Running on all cylinders, burning the midnight oil, eating whatever we can find, and all the while trying to retain enough information to prove we are academically competent. Yes, folks, I'm referring to exam time.

Different colleges deal with the stress in different ways. For example, according to this neat article, students at Northwestern University all venture outside their doors for a ritualistic yell at 9PM sharp. This "primal scream" is shared by Stanford, Harvard and a host of other schools who need a way to vent their stress. As one guy put it, this is a way to share in the anxiety of everyone else. So at least you don't feel alone!

NYU has a different stress-relieving technique. Like other schools across the country, staff members will serve up a midnight breakfast to jittery undergrads. Not a bad way to get to know your professors either! With all the stress of trying to be so competitive, students are needing professional help too. The president of Saint Leo University, Arthur Kirk, says that long lines aren't uncommon at counseling centers during this time of year. Where does all this emotion come from? In the words of psychologist Pat Carey, "There are so many pressures to compete and succeed these days."

It doesn't have to be only your husband you help with issues of the prostate. It can be any guy you know who might use a little assistance. And the only guidance you need to offer the men in your life is this: eat six servings of vegetables every day and you'll be less likely to develop an enlarged prostate.

Accomplishing six servings is not as big an undertaking as you might imagine. A serving can be as small as a half cup of cooked vegetables, six baby carrots, or half a cup of spaghetti sauce. Sound simple? Good. Now spread the word.

For more on what constitutes a serving, take a look at this site.

Whether you support the current Iraq war or not, it's hard not to adamantly support the soldiers that return from the battlefield. Are we not a country founded on freedom principles? We sure are, but when those soldiers take off the uniform and try to relax back into a civilian lifestyle, physical ailments sometimes are the least of their problems.

Thoughts of suicide, depression and other emotional maladies plague thousands of returning soldiers these days, and the apparently lack of care being shown to many of them are downright disturbing. Why is this?

Not only are some of these heroes physical casualties, but more and more are becoming economic casualties if they come back to attempt a normal life in the country they've served. Whereas some citizens poach on the system to pay for anything and everything, the welfare of soldiers stands on the line, says experts. To me, it's not a tough decision.

Naltrexone, a drug used to treat alcoholics, may be most effective in those alcoholics where the disease runs in the family, according to research from the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse.

Although prior studies showed that naltrexone -- one of four FDA-approved drugs used to treat alcoholism -- had a modest effect (but not overwhelming), this new research concluded that it was very effective. That is, only if the alcoholism being treated was passed down through genes.

The results from the study that concluded with this suggestion are quite fascinating, as naltrexone failed to produce significant benefits in overall trials, but succeeded nicely in subgroups that were studied, which led researchers to probe further into possible root causes of alcoholism.